But I couldn't see where else I could post it at. Am looking for feedback possibly, constructive criticism preferably. It is on-going as well.
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Alright, I don't have all pieces written, nor will they be. I'll just give a brief summary.
This is from the Ship, when Raye is bathing.
~I heard the plop of wet fabric and stilled immediately. Trying to calm my racing heart, I assured myself that the reason for the fall had been that I had not hung up the towel properly. The door of this room was indeed open as well, perhaps a breeze had played a role. I stepped easily over the wooden planks of the ship's floor, my step strong as it had been before my injuries. Dropping to my knees, the wood was refreshingly cool against my bare knees. A soft gasp escaped past my lips at the sight I found on the towel, as I fell hard to my bottom, my hands reaching out behind me to scoot back. I blinked once, and the sight disappeared. Fingers curled against my racing heartbeat, just under my right breast, as I tried to calm my shaking breath. Illusions... it was an illusion. A product of my overactive imagination. Anna had destroyed that one so very long ago. At the memory of Anna, a piercing pang ran through me, a deep sorrow that I knew would never leave. Goddess... how I missed her. Her and.. I sat there on the floor of the bathing room, one hand rested against the sopping towel, the other curled against the cross, as I allowed my mind to touch upon memories I normally kept locked away. Anna... with her dark violet gaze, midnight curls that always seemed to never be calm. At once playful and serious, she had been my strongest friend. Strong enough to break her addiction to alcohol... some seriously nasty drugs... and so many other roadblocks to become whole, healthy, and still able to love. I had often enveyed her, that strength, though I knew...without my...our.. help she never would have been strong enough. And Honey.. when the slashing pain became more than I could deal with, the memories unwelling in my mind like poison, I decided quickly I would deal with the memories of my twin later. I rose to my feet with a ripple of light muscle, accidently leaving the towel where it had fallen, and continued out past the door. I had to dress and see what I was able to do for Her.. for the crew.~
------
She steps out the hallway, uncaring of her nudity, and continues down the hallway.
~A chill ran down my spine, though from what I couldn't identify. Afraid now, I stepped faster towards my room. Something wasn't right. What that something was, I could not tell for certainty. All I knew at the moment that it wasn't. Certain I heard footsteps following me, I spun sharply, back pressing hard against the wall as I searched the hallways - sights and signatures alike. Nothing. Nothing at all. Taking in a shuddering breath, I tried resolutely to ignore the creepy-crawly feeling that danced over my flesh. I was safe.. safe. A soft squeak escaped past my lips as I heard another noise, and gave up the fight to be brave as I just ran to my cabin. The door slammed a bit harder into the archway than I had meant for it to do, my palms flat against the wood as I tried to calm my racing heartbeat, my ragged breathing. No. No.. I was safe. Damn it all to Healdós, I was safe. There was nothing to fear. Yet the chill still continued to creep down my spine as I slowly spinned away from the security of the door, heading towards my chest where I kept my clothing. Fingers barely shaking on the metal of the latch, I flipped it open, pushing against the wooden lid as it creaked open. Unable to stifle a scream as the sight, I scooted back abruptly, resisting the urge to run with my entire being. Fanciful illusions I tried to assure myself. Goddess... I needed to rest. Slowly, cautiously I peeked my head back over into the chest. A curl fell against the fabric, dark against the lighter colors. Nothing.. There was nothing there and never had there been anything there. A shaky laugh escaped past my lips, as my I drew out a skirt from the neatly folded pile. Nothing at all.~
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Later, the Ship docked at a stretch of islands to refuel on water. Riley and Raye went exploring. They were captured by intelligent and civilized apes. Tomm and Blade went searching after the two, though never had any luck. Riley and Raye were brought before the court, before their fate was determined for them. They were then brought to a room, where they stayed til nightfall. Both had been injured while fighting against their capture, Riley with an injury close to her eye, and Raye temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. They stopped for the night a few paces away from the Ship, though neither realized it. When Raye awoke, Riley was gone. She assumed that Riley had gone back to the Ship, and was relieved that her friend was safe. (my guess is Riley went for help, she wasn't on when I continued this)
~Something awoke me. I knew not what it was, merely.. that something wasn't right. Vague, I knew, but it was all I could manage at the time. The grass felt sharp against my bare palms, the blades cutting my tender flesh. I lifted my head, silky curls, now covered in dirt, slide off one bare shoulder. ... bare? I looked quickly down at my shoulder, finding that my sleeve had merely been ripped off, the threads hanging down my arm, the fabric slid down to my elbow. No matter, it could be fixed. Alright, body check I told myself next, a practice I had picked up long ago after a through, though oft random, beating from him. I could move my fingers, check. Arms, check. Neck, check. Shoulders, check. Waist, check. Knees... wouldn't move. Merde. Hopefully, I tried to wiggle my toes. Deux fois baiser. This wasn't good. The injury should have healed overnight. That meant the nerves had been damaged. I just prayed they hadn't been cut when the bone shifted. There was a spell that would help me in this present condition, a spell most dangerous for if backfired for it meant that the wound would never heal. It was only to be used in the most extreme of emergency, though I believed my situation to be thus dire. Though if it worked, it meant the nerves would knit back together for an hour, maybe three. That would be enough. My immediate concern was next r'eana. I scrambled around the best I could, ignoring the dirt staining my outfit, the blades of grass that cut into my skin and left the flesh to bleed against the ground. She was not anywhere to be found. Had they found her again, had she left me? I slowly placed one hand against my heartbeat, feeling the rapid fire pulse, and tried to mentally calm it. She had gone back to the Ship. She was safe. Now, I needed my cool to perform this spell.~
~The glow surrounded me as from my lips flowed the liquid syllables of the spell. Caught up in the magic, I lost track of the feel of the heat against me in the middle of the day, the miniscule and multiple cuts against every bare space on my flesh fading away from my attention. There was beauty in spellworking, a careful precision that will eventually lead to the glow and awe of perfection. The pale white light traveled down from my hands, over my shoulders, and slowly down my upper body to settle down around my waist, then knit back the nerves and bones for as long as my strength held out. I allowed the spell linger then, with faint regret, I let it die off, the glow following as it faded. Almost akwardly, my feet found purchase under my skirt-clad bottom. One hand splayed and provided the support I needed to lift my weight from the ground, the unaccustomed gravity making it difficult. My steps a bit wobbly as I traversed the lands, I nearly made contact with the ground once more. Blackness swarmed my vision, a splitting pain searing one side of my head. Cool wetness slide down my cheek, though I ignored it. I needed to find the Ship. I belonged to them. One step, two steps, there. My feet finally found stability on the spiked grass, ignoring the numerous cuts that bled my feet as I walked. My skirt clung tightly to my legs, making it difficult to walk, and my blouse was ripped from breastbone to hemline. My jewelry was missing, and I was sure I was covered in dirt. I looked a fright I imagined. Unsteady footsteps carried move over to more squishy dirt, mud I concluded as I knelt down besides a crystal lake. No longer did I worry about the mud staining my lovely outfit, for it was ruined beyond repair already. The mud squished under me, I seemed to sink a little, sending me worried it would try and consume me like the other less solid ground. When I moved no further down, I leaned over and splashed my face. The reflection in the mirror that stared back at me startled me, as I had not realized I looked this terrible. I watched fingertips touch the cool lake, sending ripples out where the disturbance began. I watched the fingertips slowly trail over the rippling surface, before lift themselves out, the droplets falling from bloody flesh to awaiting waters below. Solumn colbalt eyes stared back at me, pale full lips turned down in the merest of frowns.~
~One blink, and the water shimmered under my very gaze. A scream was ripped from my throat, as I fell back roughly against my bottom. Immediately I curled my legs under me, my skirt ripping further as it caught on a rock and snagged, causing a neat rip from hem to hem. I noticed not, as my filthy hands splashed hard against the image in the water, breath in ragged pants, the rattling in my chest accompaning every quickfire pulse of my heartbeat. When the image did nothing but distort with the rippling of the crystaline surface, another scream ripped itself from my throat. Hands scrambled for purchase, digging into the mud as my feet only slid instead of helped me up. Breathless, unable to stop the terror raging war in my mind, I slid down the slippery slope towards the water. My fingers dug into the mud, before I flipped to my belly, and prayed for a rock to stop my slide. Finding purchase, another piece of my skirt ripping on the very rock that had saved me, I scrambled inelegantly to my feet and darted off as fast as I could. My breath labored in my lungs, as my muscles, newly healed, burned like wildfire as they were pulled. I continued my wild dash across the uneven ground, oft falling many a time, though always returning upright and dashing again~
~I stumbled once, upon hearing the unmistakable sound of fabric ripping. Looking back once only confirmed my suspicions. My skirt had been ripped from thigh to hemline on my right side, leaving my legs bare to the mud and sharp grass. All I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing, the rattle in my chest, feel the burn of muscles newly healed stretch. I gathered myself up, ignored the filth of the mud caking my limbs and clothing, and continued my mad dash. When my palms met the spiky grass, my bare knees landing in squishy mud, I stayed there. Slowly, my fingers curled into the mud, squeezing it against the numerous scratches. To distract myself from my terror, I called upon another memory. The one that arose caught me by surprise~
~Anna... I had gone to visit Anna as I had always done before. She had been curled on her bed, the sheets kicked off to the side. Clad in only a nightie, the lights had been dimmed, the velvet shades drawn. Only that time, something had been drastically wrong. She had lain there on that bed, so throughly still. I had ignored the intricate if odd detailed mix of flowers and dragons on her wall, having stared at them for hours upon end before. She had been the best artist I had known, and I had yet to find another to match her talent. My bare feet had traveled across the plush ivory carpet, the room bare except for her ornate, high canopy bed and an anchient mahogany desk situated in the lower lefthand corner. My knee had leaned on the crimson sheets once I had reached the end of her bed, before my other knee had joined its mate. One hand had reached out, before it slowly stroked back her midnight curls off her forehead, one finger had trailed down her cool skin, porcelain in appearance, though downy soft to the touch. She did not stir then. I had placed my hand over her chest, my touch slipping a bit on the silk, and had found only silence. My gaze had traveled down the perfection that was my Anna, finding no flaws... Crimson. It had hit me then. The sheets were crimson. Her blood... had been crimson. I choked back tears now, as I had done that time long again. My Anna.. she had always been mine in my eyes. Even when she was with a different stranger every night... even when she had snapped.. even when that bâtard had left her breeding with his babe.. when she had found her soul mate... I still had called her mine. She had never known, for I would never have placed that burden of my unrequited love on her. I had only held her tight when her mate had been killed in the line of duty... had watched the life slowly fade out of her eyes... watched her lose her vigor until nothing remained of the once proud and strong woman. She had lost her babes.. all three of them... aged 15...10...3... lost her mate... lost her home... her people.... she finally had broken the promise she made to him. I had lifted that pale wrist, where she had slashed down the long vein with iron so it would not heal, and placed a tender kiss on the flesh where the blood at the time had merely trickled not flowed any longer. My tongue had darted out, tasting the liquid, before I saw what had been laying across her fingers, which had fallen to the sheets when I lifted her hand to my lips. I had laid her hand in my lap, before I lifted the silver chain, with the charm of Him on a cross dangling. My fingers had immediately clenched tight, as I knew she had wanted me to find this. Shaking hands had undone the clasp, laid the cool metal against my flesh, and slipped the lock into the place. Mine.... She had never been mine. I would always be hers though.~
~The memory lingered before fading from my mind's eye, its leave-taking
hindered by the fact I wished never to let her go again, even if my
memory of her proved the only piece I held left. My fingers reached as
if by reflex to the dip in my collarbone, though felt only warm flesh.
The fabric slid lower off my shoulder, covering my wrist when I sagged
in defeat. Indeed, all that I carried of her were my memories. Ignoring
the sting of mutiple cuts, I pushed against the ground, legs tucked
under me, muscles flexing in a light ripple as I managed to beat
gravity's pull to rise upright. Immediately, I had to blink once,
twice, as I couldn't see due to the liquid flowing into the eyes from
that movement. I managed to only smear it, not wipe it off when my palm
roughly scrubbed against my temple, though I noticed not. The heat
rolled over me again, swealtering, though when I looked up, the sky
showed as dark as it ever had been. A part of me wondered if this
planet's sun had burnt out. From what I could determine, standing
motionless in the near pitch-dark, I stood in the middle of an open
field. Trees to my left swayed in grosteque fashion, the crystal lake
rippled behind me, and The Ship was to my left... where I would need to
pass an even more expansive section of trees with the not-quite-solid
ground. No matter. I needed to return, though a quick bath before I
arrived in sight sounded perfectly lovely at this moment in time to me.
My footsteps were only the slightest bit unsteady, I continued my pace,
uncaring of the trail of crimson I left behind me.~
~My trudging pace soon found itself interrupted by a solid presence, one I collided against and lost my battle with gravity because of. I knew if I hit that mud one more time, I would not be able to gather the energy neccessary to duel against gravity a last time. Luckily, a slender hand reached out, grasped against my right arm, the strength evident despite its appearance in the hold it had against me. The grasp gentled until it was only holding my own self upright, for my legs were feeling increasingly numb and I knew not how much longer the spell would last. Pale lashes lifted from even paler cheekbones, revealing cerrulean eyes far tired to be wary. My gaze encompassed the creature completely, beginning from silver boots glimpsed from under ornate robes, intricately embroidered on the plum and claret silks; upwards to sleeves that swept towards the ground in sheer elegance in ivory, crimson, and plum; and further to view upon an expression gentled in confusion and concern. Silver strands laid against his slender shoulders, though the power in his body was unmistakable despite his slight frame. I lifted weary lashes to meet the purest shade of obsidian. Rayaendo. Brother to Saeke. Both owners of the Omigadoi - the most powerful slave trade network, one I knew that held no competition worth snuffing, and would never as long as the brothers continued their operation. Rayaendo... with his sadistic and merciless side hidden by the smooth-talking gentleness he presented to the surface while Saeke proved oft brutal, cold, even cruel in his actions that hid a soul as gentle as spring rain. I knew the rumors... I knew the truth from Anna's lips herself... I had never met either until now. When I spoke not a word to him, only smoothed my tongue over suddenly parched lips, his gaze turned from curiously concerned to fully concerned. He knelt before me, careful not to allow his robes to be stained by the mud, spoke a language I had never heared before. I spoke not a word, merely swayed forward as my spell threatened to wear off. Silver brows knit over concerned eyes, as he slowly held out a hand to me, palm up, as if I might run away were he to move fast. He continued to croon softly to me in that soothing language, as I slowly lifted my hand, laying it over his merely an inch above. Close enough to feel the comforting coolness, an iciness that only Calasté and Shapeshifters posses, I found myself throughly tempted to lower my hand fully upon his own.~
Now, this is afterwards. She accepted another's challenge of could she draw blood, she would win his clothes. She won, though shattered her arm by one of his blows. Captain, or M'aen for her, reset the bone, or course when she wasn't expecting it, and splinted it before bandaging. M'aen had lifted her into Her lap before, and allowed her to stay there afterwards. Piggy was causing trouble as is his wont, and the one she challenged before sliced through that creature's lungs. The scream startled her badly, enough that she buried her face against Her irreguardless of the consequences later. Much to her surprise, an arm was wrapped around her, rather than shoving her off as she had half-expected. Later, M'aen had to leave due to r/t, and she stepped over to watch the ocean, leaning on the railing.
~I cradled my arm close, this time not wriggling out of the bandages. They had been tended because someone cared, not because that person had been forced. My fingers slowly stroked against the bandage where I held my arm tightly against my long-forgotten nude chest, my footsteps carried me over towards the railing. Dark eyes as blue as the ocean I stared out at are quiet, contemplative. The wind ruffled my hair, as if mimicing B'aed's, the mate of kel-see, usual gesture. I laid my uninjured arm against the wood of the railing, idily noticing when a splinter immediately dug into my flesh that it needed be sanded. My mind recalled again the memory of Her arm around myself, a comfort I had never received before. Always I had comforted Anna, for she had not been strong enough to do so for me, not mentally strong enough to shoulder my life problem's as well as her own. My fingers touched against the cross as if by habit, stroking over the engraved figure as I tried desperately to recall any memory of my own mother. I could almost see the hint of blonde, remember the smell of jasmine, and a soft voice speaking to me, though precious little remained to me from that childhood stolen from so long ago. I could feel the railing pressing against my hips, sending a reminder to me I was coming of age soon. That meant I had to be careful, for if I were to slip... my kind, the females went into heat same as the feline DNA that had been mixed in so long ago when the first generation were created. Now... what this heat involved I knew not. No one had ever told me beyond the dire warnings. When the curl flew against my barely parted lips, I noticed not, reflecting back on what my mind refused to refrain from dwelling on, the oddity of the nights earlier~
~I laid my hand over his, the iciness caused by lack of blood refreshing against my far warm flesh. When he smiled at me, it seemed to soothe me in a way that I had never felt before. A slow warmth spread over the iciness of my soul, before I harshly reminded myself I had no right to take comfort in this man's presence...his smile. My knees buckled suddenly, the spell wearing completely off. My sudden movement must have startled him, for my knees hit the mud and sank before his hold against me tightened and lifted me from the mass that I was quickly becoming familar with, his other hand letting go of mine to touch against my shoulder. The gentleness.. the concern in his every expression... the careful way he treated me, like I was made of porcelain... Goddess how I wanted to curl my fingers around his, lean into his strength and feel like I was worth -something-.. anything at all. Heladós... even a riko would be worth more than a ricón. And knowing me, I could easily make y'caen. I watched him, mind the slightest bit fuzzy, as he sets me down in the mud. I watched him, barely able to understand the careful way he ran his hands over my ankles, up my calves to check for bones broken. ...ricón...riko...feriko...kae'ean....y'caen... Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice his changing expression until I felt the ice against my ankle, where he held it within his grasp. The expression on his face... soul deep terror filled my soul at that, my only reassurance it was not directed at by his handling of my ankle, the continuing to treat me as a priceless doll. His words spilled over me again, liquid sounds comforting if foreign~ T'ellliean... ~The lethal softness of his voice caused me to snap my head up, dark eyes warily watched him as he glared down at the brand over my flesh.~ I don't think I want to know who else has owned Carleign's kit. ~He lowered my ankle to the mud with the same careful precision, before his chilled fingers feathered over my scorching flesh, gaze turning from contained fury to mere puzzlement~ And who is this pretty princess? Hm. I recognize not this one. Though.. to have two owners...the brands would immediately compete. Whoever this one is who owns you now princess must indeed have power of the hightest order. ~His touch against my cheek startled me, as I realized my lashes had fallen against my cheeks without me realizing it~ Sleep. ~His voice, soothing against my ears, reassured me he meant no harm as did when he reached under me, drawing me up against his chest like one would cradle a babe. I could do no more than lay my head against his chest, a soft sigh slipped past my lips as I succumbed to the darkness. Vaguely I heard his last words as I drifted~ I shall bathe you and return you. Though... what will I tell Carleign?
---
~When I awoke, I was dressed in the softest of nightgowns, the linen cool against my overheated flesh. I shifted once, heard the reassuring clink of metal against metal, the sound of bells against my ankle. How had he known? My lashes lifted slowly, adjusting to the darkness, feeling the plumpness of a pillow under my head. I normally laid a blanket over the floor, the strangeness of being in such a soft bed momentarily startled me. When I braced my hands out to rest against the sheets, holding up my weight so I may sit up, the comforter slid down over my shoulders to lie bunched around my waist. My wounds had been cared for, I realized with a start, examining my clean and bandaged skin in slight awe. My only guess was he had shapeshifted into one of the higher ranking crew members, in order to escape detection and questions. I tried to wriggle my toes once, sighed when I couldn't, and summoned the spell once more. This time it flowed easier from my lips, the memory of the previous aiding me. I could not feel, though this time my toes wiggled when I told them to. Content that would do for now, I swung my feet from under the comforter and stood on slightly unsteady legs. I needed to dress and return to my place...~
~~
Alright, I don't have all pieces written, nor will they be. I'll just give a brief summary.
This is from the Ship, when Raye is bathing.
~I heard the plop of wet fabric and stilled immediately. Trying to calm my racing heart, I assured myself that the reason for the fall had been that I had not hung up the towel properly. The door of this room was indeed open as well, perhaps a breeze had played a role. I stepped easily over the wooden planks of the ship's floor, my step strong as it had been before my injuries. Dropping to my knees, the wood was refreshingly cool against my bare knees. A soft gasp escaped past my lips at the sight I found on the towel, as I fell hard to my bottom, my hands reaching out behind me to scoot back. I blinked once, and the sight disappeared. Fingers curled against my racing heartbeat, just under my right breast, as I tried to calm my shaking breath. Illusions... it was an illusion. A product of my overactive imagination. Anna had destroyed that one so very long ago. At the memory of Anna, a piercing pang ran through me, a deep sorrow that I knew would never leave. Goddess... how I missed her. Her and.. I sat there on the floor of the bathing room, one hand rested against the sopping towel, the other curled against the cross, as I allowed my mind to touch upon memories I normally kept locked away. Anna... with her dark violet gaze, midnight curls that always seemed to never be calm. At once playful and serious, she had been my strongest friend. Strong enough to break her addiction to alcohol... some seriously nasty drugs... and so many other roadblocks to become whole, healthy, and still able to love. I had often enveyed her, that strength, though I knew...without my...our.. help she never would have been strong enough. And Honey.. when the slashing pain became more than I could deal with, the memories unwelling in my mind like poison, I decided quickly I would deal with the memories of my twin later. I rose to my feet with a ripple of light muscle, accidently leaving the towel where it had fallen, and continued out past the door. I had to dress and see what I was able to do for Her.. for the crew.~
------
She steps out the hallway, uncaring of her nudity, and continues down the hallway.
~A chill ran down my spine, though from what I couldn't identify. Afraid now, I stepped faster towards my room. Something wasn't right. What that something was, I could not tell for certainty. All I knew at the moment that it wasn't. Certain I heard footsteps following me, I spun sharply, back pressing hard against the wall as I searched the hallways - sights and signatures alike. Nothing. Nothing at all. Taking in a shuddering breath, I tried resolutely to ignore the creepy-crawly feeling that danced over my flesh. I was safe.. safe. A soft squeak escaped past my lips as I heard another noise, and gave up the fight to be brave as I just ran to my cabin. The door slammed a bit harder into the archway than I had meant for it to do, my palms flat against the wood as I tried to calm my racing heartbeat, my ragged breathing. No. No.. I was safe. Damn it all to Healdós, I was safe. There was nothing to fear. Yet the chill still continued to creep down my spine as I slowly spinned away from the security of the door, heading towards my chest where I kept my clothing. Fingers barely shaking on the metal of the latch, I flipped it open, pushing against the wooden lid as it creaked open. Unable to stifle a scream as the sight, I scooted back abruptly, resisting the urge to run with my entire being. Fanciful illusions I tried to assure myself. Goddess... I needed to rest. Slowly, cautiously I peeked my head back over into the chest. A curl fell against the fabric, dark against the lighter colors. Nothing.. There was nothing there and never had there been anything there. A shaky laugh escaped past my lips, as my I drew out a skirt from the neatly folded pile. Nothing at all.~
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Later, the Ship docked at a stretch of islands to refuel on water. Riley and Raye went exploring. They were captured by intelligent and civilized apes. Tomm and Blade went searching after the two, though never had any luck. Riley and Raye were brought before the court, before their fate was determined for them. They were then brought to a room, where they stayed til nightfall. Both had been injured while fighting against their capture, Riley with an injury close to her eye, and Raye temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. They stopped for the night a few paces away from the Ship, though neither realized it. When Raye awoke, Riley was gone. She assumed that Riley had gone back to the Ship, and was relieved that her friend was safe. (my guess is Riley went for help, she wasn't on when I continued this)
~Something awoke me. I knew not what it was, merely.. that something wasn't right. Vague, I knew, but it was all I could manage at the time. The grass felt sharp against my bare palms, the blades cutting my tender flesh. I lifted my head, silky curls, now covered in dirt, slide off one bare shoulder. ... bare? I looked quickly down at my shoulder, finding that my sleeve had merely been ripped off, the threads hanging down my arm, the fabric slid down to my elbow. No matter, it could be fixed. Alright, body check I told myself next, a practice I had picked up long ago after a through, though oft random, beating from him. I could move my fingers, check. Arms, check. Neck, check. Shoulders, check. Waist, check. Knees... wouldn't move. Merde. Hopefully, I tried to wiggle my toes. Deux fois baiser. This wasn't good. The injury should have healed overnight. That meant the nerves had been damaged. I just prayed they hadn't been cut when the bone shifted. There was a spell that would help me in this present condition, a spell most dangerous for if backfired for it meant that the wound would never heal. It was only to be used in the most extreme of emergency, though I believed my situation to be thus dire. Though if it worked, it meant the nerves would knit back together for an hour, maybe three. That would be enough. My immediate concern was next r'eana. I scrambled around the best I could, ignoring the dirt staining my outfit, the blades of grass that cut into my skin and left the flesh to bleed against the ground. She was not anywhere to be found. Had they found her again, had she left me? I slowly placed one hand against my heartbeat, feeling the rapid fire pulse, and tried to mentally calm it. She had gone back to the Ship. She was safe. Now, I needed my cool to perform this spell.~
~The glow surrounded me as from my lips flowed the liquid syllables of the spell. Caught up in the magic, I lost track of the feel of the heat against me in the middle of the day, the miniscule and multiple cuts against every bare space on my flesh fading away from my attention. There was beauty in spellworking, a careful precision that will eventually lead to the glow and awe of perfection. The pale white light traveled down from my hands, over my shoulders, and slowly down my upper body to settle down around my waist, then knit back the nerves and bones for as long as my strength held out. I allowed the spell linger then, with faint regret, I let it die off, the glow following as it faded. Almost akwardly, my feet found purchase under my skirt-clad bottom. One hand splayed and provided the support I needed to lift my weight from the ground, the unaccustomed gravity making it difficult. My steps a bit wobbly as I traversed the lands, I nearly made contact with the ground once more. Blackness swarmed my vision, a splitting pain searing one side of my head. Cool wetness slide down my cheek, though I ignored it. I needed to find the Ship. I belonged to them. One step, two steps, there. My feet finally found stability on the spiked grass, ignoring the numerous cuts that bled my feet as I walked. My skirt clung tightly to my legs, making it difficult to walk, and my blouse was ripped from breastbone to hemline. My jewelry was missing, and I was sure I was covered in dirt. I looked a fright I imagined. Unsteady footsteps carried move over to more squishy dirt, mud I concluded as I knelt down besides a crystal lake. No longer did I worry about the mud staining my lovely outfit, for it was ruined beyond repair already. The mud squished under me, I seemed to sink a little, sending me worried it would try and consume me like the other less solid ground. When I moved no further down, I leaned over and splashed my face. The reflection in the mirror that stared back at me startled me, as I had not realized I looked this terrible. I watched fingertips touch the cool lake, sending ripples out where the disturbance began. I watched the fingertips slowly trail over the rippling surface, before lift themselves out, the droplets falling from bloody flesh to awaiting waters below. Solumn colbalt eyes stared back at me, pale full lips turned down in the merest of frowns.~
~One blink, and the water shimmered under my very gaze. A scream was ripped from my throat, as I fell back roughly against my bottom. Immediately I curled my legs under me, my skirt ripping further as it caught on a rock and snagged, causing a neat rip from hem to hem. I noticed not, as my filthy hands splashed hard against the image in the water, breath in ragged pants, the rattling in my chest accompaning every quickfire pulse of my heartbeat. When the image did nothing but distort with the rippling of the crystaline surface, another scream ripped itself from my throat. Hands scrambled for purchase, digging into the mud as my feet only slid instead of helped me up. Breathless, unable to stop the terror raging war in my mind, I slid down the slippery slope towards the water. My fingers dug into the mud, before I flipped to my belly, and prayed for a rock to stop my slide. Finding purchase, another piece of my skirt ripping on the very rock that had saved me, I scrambled inelegantly to my feet and darted off as fast as I could. My breath labored in my lungs, as my muscles, newly healed, burned like wildfire as they were pulled. I continued my wild dash across the uneven ground, oft falling many a time, though always returning upright and dashing again~
~I stumbled once, upon hearing the unmistakable sound of fabric ripping. Looking back once only confirmed my suspicions. My skirt had been ripped from thigh to hemline on my right side, leaving my legs bare to the mud and sharp grass. All I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing, the rattle in my chest, feel the burn of muscles newly healed stretch. I gathered myself up, ignored the filth of the mud caking my limbs and clothing, and continued my mad dash. When my palms met the spiky grass, my bare knees landing in squishy mud, I stayed there. Slowly, my fingers curled into the mud, squeezing it against the numerous scratches. To distract myself from my terror, I called upon another memory. The one that arose caught me by surprise~
~Anna... I had gone to visit Anna as I had always done before. She had been curled on her bed, the sheets kicked off to the side. Clad in only a nightie, the lights had been dimmed, the velvet shades drawn. Only that time, something had been drastically wrong. She had lain there on that bed, so throughly still. I had ignored the intricate if odd detailed mix of flowers and dragons on her wall, having stared at them for hours upon end before. She had been the best artist I had known, and I had yet to find another to match her talent. My bare feet had traveled across the plush ivory carpet, the room bare except for her ornate, high canopy bed and an anchient mahogany desk situated in the lower lefthand corner. My knee had leaned on the crimson sheets once I had reached the end of her bed, before my other knee had joined its mate. One hand had reached out, before it slowly stroked back her midnight curls off her forehead, one finger had trailed down her cool skin, porcelain in appearance, though downy soft to the touch. She did not stir then. I had placed my hand over her chest, my touch slipping a bit on the silk, and had found only silence. My gaze had traveled down the perfection that was my Anna, finding no flaws... Crimson. It had hit me then. The sheets were crimson. Her blood... had been crimson. I choked back tears now, as I had done that time long again. My Anna.. she had always been mine in my eyes. Even when she was with a different stranger every night... even when she had snapped.. even when that bâtard had left her breeding with his babe.. when she had found her soul mate... I still had called her mine. She had never known, for I would never have placed that burden of my unrequited love on her. I had only held her tight when her mate had been killed in the line of duty... had watched the life slowly fade out of her eyes... watched her lose her vigor until nothing remained of the once proud and strong woman. She had lost her babes.. all three of them... aged 15...10...3... lost her mate... lost her home... her people.... she finally had broken the promise she made to him. I had lifted that pale wrist, where she had slashed down the long vein with iron so it would not heal, and placed a tender kiss on the flesh where the blood at the time had merely trickled not flowed any longer. My tongue had darted out, tasting the liquid, before I saw what had been laying across her fingers, which had fallen to the sheets when I lifted her hand to my lips. I had laid her hand in my lap, before I lifted the silver chain, with the charm of Him on a cross dangling. My fingers had immediately clenched tight, as I knew she had wanted me to find this. Shaking hands had undone the clasp, laid the cool metal against my flesh, and slipped the lock into the place. Mine.... She had never been mine. I would always be hers though.~
~The memory lingered before fading from my mind's eye, its leave-taking
hindered by the fact I wished never to let her go again, even if my
memory of her proved the only piece I held left. My fingers reached as
if by reflex to the dip in my collarbone, though felt only warm flesh.
The fabric slid lower off my shoulder, covering my wrist when I sagged
in defeat. Indeed, all that I carried of her were my memories. Ignoring
the sting of mutiple cuts, I pushed against the ground, legs tucked
under me, muscles flexing in a light ripple as I managed to beat
gravity's pull to rise upright. Immediately, I had to blink once,
twice, as I couldn't see due to the liquid flowing into the eyes from
that movement. I managed to only smear it, not wipe it off when my palm
roughly scrubbed against my temple, though I noticed not. The heat
rolled over me again, swealtering, though when I looked up, the sky
showed as dark as it ever had been. A part of me wondered if this
planet's sun had burnt out. From what I could determine, standing
motionless in the near pitch-dark, I stood in the middle of an open
field. Trees to my left swayed in grosteque fashion, the crystal lake
rippled behind me, and The Ship was to my left... where I would need to
pass an even more expansive section of trees with the not-quite-solid
ground. No matter. I needed to return, though a quick bath before I
arrived in sight sounded perfectly lovely at this moment in time to me.
My footsteps were only the slightest bit unsteady, I continued my pace,
uncaring of the trail of crimson I left behind me.~
~My trudging pace soon found itself interrupted by a solid presence, one I collided against and lost my battle with gravity because of. I knew if I hit that mud one more time, I would not be able to gather the energy neccessary to duel against gravity a last time. Luckily, a slender hand reached out, grasped against my right arm, the strength evident despite its appearance in the hold it had against me. The grasp gentled until it was only holding my own self upright, for my legs were feeling increasingly numb and I knew not how much longer the spell would last. Pale lashes lifted from even paler cheekbones, revealing cerrulean eyes far tired to be wary. My gaze encompassed the creature completely, beginning from silver boots glimpsed from under ornate robes, intricately embroidered on the plum and claret silks; upwards to sleeves that swept towards the ground in sheer elegance in ivory, crimson, and plum; and further to view upon an expression gentled in confusion and concern. Silver strands laid against his slender shoulders, though the power in his body was unmistakable despite his slight frame. I lifted weary lashes to meet the purest shade of obsidian. Rayaendo. Brother to Saeke. Both owners of the Omigadoi - the most powerful slave trade network, one I knew that held no competition worth snuffing, and would never as long as the brothers continued their operation. Rayaendo... with his sadistic and merciless side hidden by the smooth-talking gentleness he presented to the surface while Saeke proved oft brutal, cold, even cruel in his actions that hid a soul as gentle as spring rain. I knew the rumors... I knew the truth from Anna's lips herself... I had never met either until now. When I spoke not a word to him, only smoothed my tongue over suddenly parched lips, his gaze turned from curiously concerned to fully concerned. He knelt before me, careful not to allow his robes to be stained by the mud, spoke a language I had never heared before. I spoke not a word, merely swayed forward as my spell threatened to wear off. Silver brows knit over concerned eyes, as he slowly held out a hand to me, palm up, as if I might run away were he to move fast. He continued to croon softly to me in that soothing language, as I slowly lifted my hand, laying it over his merely an inch above. Close enough to feel the comforting coolness, an iciness that only Calasté and Shapeshifters posses, I found myself throughly tempted to lower my hand fully upon his own.~
Now, this is afterwards. She accepted another's challenge of could she draw blood, she would win his clothes. She won, though shattered her arm by one of his blows. Captain, or M'aen for her, reset the bone, or course when she wasn't expecting it, and splinted it before bandaging. M'aen had lifted her into Her lap before, and allowed her to stay there afterwards. Piggy was causing trouble as is his wont, and the one she challenged before sliced through that creature's lungs. The scream startled her badly, enough that she buried her face against Her irreguardless of the consequences later. Much to her surprise, an arm was wrapped around her, rather than shoving her off as she had half-expected. Later, M'aen had to leave due to r/t, and she stepped over to watch the ocean, leaning on the railing.
~I cradled my arm close, this time not wriggling out of the bandages. They had been tended because someone cared, not because that person had been forced. My fingers slowly stroked against the bandage where I held my arm tightly against my long-forgotten nude chest, my footsteps carried me over towards the railing. Dark eyes as blue as the ocean I stared out at are quiet, contemplative. The wind ruffled my hair, as if mimicing B'aed's, the mate of kel-see, usual gesture. I laid my uninjured arm against the wood of the railing, idily noticing when a splinter immediately dug into my flesh that it needed be sanded. My mind recalled again the memory of Her arm around myself, a comfort I had never received before. Always I had comforted Anna, for she had not been strong enough to do so for me, not mentally strong enough to shoulder my life problem's as well as her own. My fingers touched against the cross as if by habit, stroking over the engraved figure as I tried desperately to recall any memory of my own mother. I could almost see the hint of blonde, remember the smell of jasmine, and a soft voice speaking to me, though precious little remained to me from that childhood stolen from so long ago. I could feel the railing pressing against my hips, sending a reminder to me I was coming of age soon. That meant I had to be careful, for if I were to slip... my kind, the females went into heat same as the feline DNA that had been mixed in so long ago when the first generation were created. Now... what this heat involved I knew not. No one had ever told me beyond the dire warnings. When the curl flew against my barely parted lips, I noticed not, reflecting back on what my mind refused to refrain from dwelling on, the oddity of the nights earlier~
~I laid my hand over his, the iciness caused by lack of blood refreshing against my far warm flesh. When he smiled at me, it seemed to soothe me in a way that I had never felt before. A slow warmth spread over the iciness of my soul, before I harshly reminded myself I had no right to take comfort in this man's presence...his smile. My knees buckled suddenly, the spell wearing completely off. My sudden movement must have startled him, for my knees hit the mud and sank before his hold against me tightened and lifted me from the mass that I was quickly becoming familar with, his other hand letting go of mine to touch against my shoulder. The gentleness.. the concern in his every expression... the careful way he treated me, like I was made of porcelain... Goddess how I wanted to curl my fingers around his, lean into his strength and feel like I was worth -something-.. anything at all. Heladós... even a riko would be worth more than a ricón. And knowing me, I could easily make y'caen. I watched him, mind the slightest bit fuzzy, as he sets me down in the mud. I watched him, barely able to understand the careful way he ran his hands over my ankles, up my calves to check for bones broken. ...ricón...riko...feriko...kae'ean....y'caen... Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice his changing expression until I felt the ice against my ankle, where he held it within his grasp. The expression on his face... soul deep terror filled my soul at that, my only reassurance it was not directed at by his handling of my ankle, the continuing to treat me as a priceless doll. His words spilled over me again, liquid sounds comforting if foreign~ T'ellliean... ~The lethal softness of his voice caused me to snap my head up, dark eyes warily watched him as he glared down at the brand over my flesh.~ I don't think I want to know who else has owned Carleign's kit. ~He lowered my ankle to the mud with the same careful precision, before his chilled fingers feathered over my scorching flesh, gaze turning from contained fury to mere puzzlement~ And who is this pretty princess? Hm. I recognize not this one. Though.. to have two owners...the brands would immediately compete. Whoever this one is who owns you now princess must indeed have power of the hightest order. ~His touch against my cheek startled me, as I realized my lashes had fallen against my cheeks without me realizing it~ Sleep. ~His voice, soothing against my ears, reassured me he meant no harm as did when he reached under me, drawing me up against his chest like one would cradle a babe. I could do no more than lay my head against his chest, a soft sigh slipped past my lips as I succumbed to the darkness. Vaguely I heard his last words as I drifted~ I shall bathe you and return you. Though... what will I tell Carleign?
---
~When I awoke, I was dressed in the softest of nightgowns, the linen cool against my overheated flesh. I shifted once, heard the reassuring clink of metal against metal, the sound of bells against my ankle. How had he known? My lashes lifted slowly, adjusting to the darkness, feeling the plumpness of a pillow under my head. I normally laid a blanket over the floor, the strangeness of being in such a soft bed momentarily startled me. When I braced my hands out to rest against the sheets, holding up my weight so I may sit up, the comforter slid down over my shoulders to lie bunched around my waist. My wounds had been cared for, I realized with a start, examining my clean and bandaged skin in slight awe. My only guess was he had shapeshifted into one of the higher ranking crew members, in order to escape detection and questions. I tried to wriggle my toes once, sighed when I couldn't, and summoned the spell once more. This time it flowed easier from my lips, the memory of the previous aiding me. I could not feel, though this time my toes wiggled when I told them to. Content that would do for now, I swung my feet from under the comforter and stood on slightly unsteady legs. I needed to dress and return to my place...~
